Why is the Costa del Sol so tacky - and what do the Spaniards themselves think about it?

Question

Just come back from there, and will never do it again. The problem wasn't 'difficult' Spaniards (none I met were), but hooded-eyed British ex-patriats, who treated Spaniards AND British tourists like scum. Went to a bar in Fuengirola on a side street and the atmosphere was like a cemetary. Escaped quickly to a British bar on the front called Manana, and got the gossip about the bar we had just come from - it apparently was a drugs den, owned by a Scotsman who was always asleep on the chairs. So - if you want gossip, Eastenders, footy and cocaine - and the odd-looks from British ex-pats who think just because they live there, anyone else are below them, Costa del Sol is your destination. Was thinking of returning when it became cooler, but will be thinking again!

Answer 1

Think you answered the question yourself, its been taken over by british people most of who are scumbags trying to make a living over there doing dodgy work. Or people who have sold up over here when house prices were good and gone out there to try and make a better life and they now feel they are better than you are. If you go again go somewhere that is not full of brits there are some beautiful places off the beaten track and also by the sea Villaricos is lovely in Almeria but its quiet not big and noisy.

Answer 2

i went there last year and i felt the same that it was so tacky and i will never go back

Answer 3

sorry to hear you had such an awful time but it sounds to me you did not research the area you booked.i have been going there with my family for ten years now and have never had a bad holiday .my kids are older teenagers and are planning to go there themselves as they still love it.always stayed in benalmadena though.but i always believed a holiday is what you make if you are not enjoying yourself find something while there that you will enjoy.as the costa del sol and surrounding areas have so much to offer other than pubs and drugs like most place in the uk you can always find these places if you look for them.

Answer 4

Personally I think your mind was made up even beofre you arrived, YOU certainly did visit all the tourist places, you only get what you pay for, Fuengirola is no better or worse than any other tourist area, take Blackpool, Skegness, Brighton, all chips shops, ciggy ends, terrible old pubs........stale old comics trying to make there 500th comeback appareance on the end of piers.........

I have lived here for 26 years, married to a spaniard, would never go bck to the uk for ANYTHING!!! not even to collect a winning lottery ticket!

Come again with an open mind, travel further, you will see how different Andalucia really is..........................

Answer 5

Hi Harry x. Forgot to tell you about that! The oldies reading their Daily Mails, checking the lottery numbers and relaxing with a cup of tea in a British bar to watch the soaps, and the young ones fighting each other at the Brit all-nighters.

  The Spanish are in all grateful for the British pound, but as you hint, maybe they are paying for it big time.

  Lots of Brits are fed up with the costa del Sol now, and jetting off to Bulgaria, Turkey and the like. You know what will happen there. They'll try to turn that into a European Blackpool (like Torremolinos and Feungirola) and make the locals mad! Hope your trips to Nogalera made it better for you!! xx

Answer 6

I live on the Costa Del Sol. I stay well away from the tourists. If you stay by the coast in towns like Fuengirola then yes, you may be right about it being tacky. The area has so much more to offer than the coastal strip. I very rarely go to the beach. I live 10 kilometres inland and it is a beautiful area with mountains all around. My neighbours are Spanish and they are lovely people. We do have Brits up here, but they are living here and it's different because we are all here for one thing, to enjoy the country for what it is.

Answer 7

Hey Harry, you've had a bad experience but it's a bit strong blaming the Costa del Sol generally.  I've been going there every year for the past 20 years (4 times last year) and still love the place.   I will admit to not liking Fuengirola much, only went there the once.   But just a few miles down the road, Benalmadena and Arroyo de la Miel, offer so much more.   If you realised Fuengirola was not your scene, why didn't you organise a few trips out of it, and appreciate some of the good things the area has to offer.   There are many lovely places, easily accessible by bus, train or coach which would have given you a completely different opinion of the Costa del Sol and Andalucia generally.   By your own admission you say you went to 2 British bars.   Why?   You were in  Spain, and if you were to use the Spanish bars and restaurants, not only would you get better service at a cheaper price, but you would not have to endure "Eastenders", "footie" & "cocaine", as you put it.

I have visited the Costa Brava & Costa Blanca many times and, while I like what both have to offer, the Costa del Sol is still my favourite destination.   Please don't let this one bad holiday put you off, as you will be missing so much that is good about this part of Spain.    Personally I can't wait for October, and my next visit.

Answer 8

I have been and like you will never go back.

I feel sorry for all the Spaniards who live there to have to put up with so many idiots but i guess it cant be helped!

Answer 9

i have been to Los Boliches on costa del sol and loved it returning next year, met some great spanish people.